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Radiator flush

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Peter4

06-07-2005 06:03:19

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Could someone walk me through this. Do I stick a hose in radiator and open bottom plug, Rinse stuff out, Then what?? And water and run, or vinger or Radiator flush. Then I run the engine for a while and redrain. Then add new radiator fluid. How much radiator fluid to water??? Looking for steps to clean that brown sludge out and get running again. Any help appreciated Thanks

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Cap-N-ID

06-07-2005 10:03:50

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 06:03:19

Pete --
I agree with soundguy about pulling the bottom radiator hose. The more water you can get flowing through both the block and the radiator the cleaner you'll get it. I follow this procedure when doing my rigs. First, pull bottom hose and flush with a full pressure garden hose in the top of the radiator. THEN, while the bottom hose is still off, pull the top radiator hose all the way off (because the thermostat blocks the water flow) and flush down through the top of the engine. Have both the block drain and the radiator drain open while doing this too. Whether or not to use radiator cleaner before all the flushing is your choice. Some guys do, some don't. I've personally never had any problem with it but have heard stories of others having problems, so if you do decide to ues it be sure to follow the directions. After flushing completely until clear water comes out, I then let it all drain until empty and refill with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water.
-- Cap --

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DanL-Colorado-9N252085

06-07-2005 12:21:22

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Cap-N-ID, 06-07-2005 10:03:50

If you do use a chemical flush, remember that you have to "flush the flush". That is, rinse the block and radiator thoroughly before you do the final antifreeze/water fill.

If it was mine, I'd rinse the chemicals out of it as well as I could, then put straight water in it and run it for an hour or so, then drain and refill with the antifreeze mix. That should make sure that all the chemical flush is out of the system. Just get as much of the chemicals out as you can, as soon as you can, because it's hard on seals.

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Pooh Bear

06-07-2005 07:07:03

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 06:03:19

I recently flushed and refilled mine.
I took a big plastic garbage bag and at the open end I tore a small hole in it and put it over the radiator fill hole (where the cap goes). I sealed it as good as I could with mylar tape and I hung the other end of the bag down in a 5 gallon bucket.
Then I dropped a hose in the top of the radiator and ran it till it flowed clear out the top. Then I started the tractor and watched all the brown crud run out till it again ran clear. Couldn't hardly believe how much crud I got out of it. Then I opened the bottom drain on the radiator and let it drain out there for a while.
After I got it all flushed out I removed the plastic bag and closed the bottom radiator drain and refilled the radiator with a 50+/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water.
I used a stronger mix of antifreeze to take into account all the water in the block.
And I flushed out the top of the radiator so that all that brown stuff (stop leak probably) wouldn't just settle to the bottom and all over the core.

Since my well water has a high iron and mineral content I probably should have did a final flush with distilled water.

How often should the antifreeze be changed in the tractor.

Pooh Bear

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Peter4

06-07-2005 07:27:09

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Pooh Bear, 06-07-2005 07:07:03

Pooh Bear, did you leave hose running in top of radiator while tractor was running?? And was the tractor still running when you opened bottom drain?? Is this the technique I should use ??

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Pooh Bear

06-07-2005 11:53:18

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 07:27:09

I left the engine running while the radiator was
full and with the hose running.
But as the radiator drained out I was worried about the water pump so I shut down the engine.
By then the water was almost completely clear anyway.

I flushed it all out the top first so that gunk
wouldn't settle around the core as it drained.
When it ran clear I drained it out the bottom.

This is the technique I use.
YMMV (your milage may vary).
Read my Dislaimer

Pooh Bear

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Dean

06-07-2005 06:44:49

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 06:03:19

There are two schools of thought on radiator flush. Yes, adding some type of commercial flush solution will help to remove more contamination. But experience has taught me that the liklihood of the water pump seal failing shortly thereafter if not worth the benefit of the flush. I have changed far too many water pumps only days after using radiator flush, and no longer use anything but water to flush cooling systems. I stopped using radiator flush about 20 years ago and haven't changed a water pump since.

Secondly, when you refill your radiator, use a 50/50 percent solution of good permanent antifreeze and distilled water. Do not use tap water.

Dean

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Rob

06-07-2005 06:19:21

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 06:03:19

Drain the block, a lot of it is below the bottom radiator hose and the radiator cock won"t get it. Open the block cock and drain. Then remove it and flush. You might have to dig through the crud to get anything out.
What you have to do to clean it all out just depends on what"s in there for how long. Be prepared to make an effort and you might even end up trying all of it before you"re done right.
But then you might be able to just run some clean water through the radiator and out the cock and through the block and out that cock.

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souNdguy

06-07-2005 06:34:23

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Rob, 06-07-2005 06:19:21

Rob makes an excelent point.. flushing the radiator is half the job.. getting the gunk out of the block is the other half.. after all.. if you don't get the block somewhat clean.. it will all just go back intot he radiator again anyway.

Soundguy

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souNdguy

06-07-2005 06:09:05

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 06:03:19

Drain the choclate milkshake out first.. add flush.. follow directions for flush.. usually they say run for x time to get engine warm. Darin that.. I might then flush with water, and warm back up.. then add my antifreeze mix. Mix to whatever desired protection level you need per the af container.. I.e. 50/50 60/40 70/30. etc.

Yes.. you can use the petcock.. but i much prefer pulling the bottom hose.. the fast drain gets more sludge out. Doesn't hurt to run the garden hose water thru it while draining either.

Drain in a safe location or bottle your drainings for proper disposal.. some af kills animals, depending on what you are using.

Soundguy

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Peter4

06-07-2005 07:17:48

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to souNdguy, 06-07-2005 06:09:05

O.K. Pulling the lower hose to flush radiator right? But what do I need to do to drain block or will this do it?? Or is there another plug to pull to accomplish this. Also one said do not use radiator flush, one said to use it but to flush with water afterwards?? Should I just try water first?? See what happans ?? Don't really want to cause another problem at water pump?? Again best way to get block somewhat clean??

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souNdguy

06-07-2005 12:24:01

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Re: Radiator flush in reply to Peter4, 06-07-2005 07:17:48

There are block drains.. however.. popping the bottom hose goes a long way. for the heck of it..pop all the drains.

Use radiator flush at your discretion. i don't see a problem with it.. if you do.. don't use it. If I did use a flush.. whether it was off the shelf.. or vinegar.. etc.. I'd deffinately refill with water.. let warm up, and drain again..before refilling with af and water..

Soundguy

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